Multifunction electronic analog timepiece

ABSTRACT

A multifunction electronic analog timepiece includes a face and a plurality of indicators positioned on the face for displaying at least two time keeping functions. At least two step motors are provided for driving the plurality of time keeping function indicators. The time keeping function indicators are arbitrarily disposed about the face dependent upon the number of step motors and position of step motors required to drive the indicators. A microcomputer is provided and includes a program memory for storing software instructions for controlling the step motors.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/368,455 filed Jun. 19,1989 abandoned which is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No.07/340,620 filed on Apr. 19, 1989 U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,231.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic analog timepiece, and inparticular, to an electronic timepiece having multifunction indicatorssuch as chronograph indication, timer indication and elapsed timeindication.

To meet consumer demand, electronic analog timepieces such as watcheshave been manufactured having multifunctions such as chronograph, alarm,elapsed time and the like. Multifunction electronic analog watches areknown from Japanese Patent Laid Open Nos. 286783/86 and 294388/86 andJapanese Utility Model Laid Open No. 26191/86 and include a small secondhand, alarm hour/minute hands and other analog indicators in addition totwelve hour second, hour and minute hands. A small window for exclusivemultifunction use is provided at arbitrary positions on the watch facefor example, at the six o'clock watch face position, or some otherposition to indicate a special non-time keeping function such as thealarm time. Additionally an auxiliary stem, in addition to the normallyprovided stem, and a switch for switching into multifunction modes arerequired. The addition of multifunction indicators, stems and switchesmakes it possible to provide a variety of watch designs to cope withdiversified consumer preferences and requirements.

These prior art multifunction electronic analog watches have been lessthan satisfactory. An individual watch movement structure and integratedcircuit (“IC”) for driving the structure are required for eachcombination of functions to be added. Accordingly, the movementstructure and positioning of parts within the watch structure must bechanged in accordance with the positioning of function indicators anddue to the addition or reduction of functions and specification changes.Accordingly, the IC must be changed to match each new watch embodiment.Accordingly, manufacturers are forced to produce a variety ofmultifunction watches in small quantities to comply with consumerrequirements as well as to provide a large variation in watch designfunction.

To vary the prior art multifunction electronic analog watches requiresproviding a number of dies, additional manual labor for changing theparts for each new watch model, changing the IC mask in accordance witheach IC change as well as the time and work required for each designchange resulting in a high cost for each multifunction electronic watch.Additionally, to design a multifunction watch with a redundancy whichallows the disposition of a variety of parts and IC constructed tosatisfy various embodiments of a single model electronic watch leads toa large watch site as well as increasing the cost of each watch.

Additionally, development of such ICs requires a relatively long periodof time to design. It is therefore difficult to accommodate currentmarket needs due to the long lead time required. Modification to the ICmust be made on a large scale when adding new functions to the watch orotherwise changing the manufacturing specifications. Such modificationscan require the IC to be totally redesigned. A single IC is also notable to cope with functional variations in the watch. Consequently, theconstant changing diversified needs of the consumer cannot be satisfiedby conventional multifunctional analog electronic watches.

The prior art multifunction electronic analog watches are also providedwith an alarm. The alarm operates in an alarm ringing mode-and an alarmnon-ringing mode. In the alarm ringing mode, a preset alarm set time isretained even after the alarm has been activated. The alarm also rings apredetermined period of time after the initial occurrence of the alarmringing, such as, when the alarm set time again coincides with a currenttime. For example, this would occur each hours on a conventionalmultifunction analog electronic watch. In the prior art, to prevent thesuccessive ringing of the alarm once the alarm has occurred, the alarmmust be put into a mode which prohibits alarm activation through someswitch operation or the like. Additionally, when resetting the alarmfrom the ringing prohibition state, the ringing prohibition state mustbe released thus involving a complicated operation. Accordingly, whenthe alarm is to be set in its alarm activated mode for two distinctalarm times, for example, if the alarm is to be activated a first timeand then ten minutes in the future, the user of the watch must calculatethe time in which the alarm is to be reactivated, add that time to thecurrent time and then set the alarm for this second activation time, arather involved procedure.

Accordingly, it is desired to provide a multifunction electronic analogwatch which is applicable to a large diversity of watch functions anddesigns while ensuring efficiency in design and manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improvedmultifunction analog electronic watch includes a wheel train forindicating ordinary time and at least one or more wheel trains forindicating additional functions. A step motor for driving the ordinarytime wheel train and at least one or more step motors for driving theadditional function wheel trains is provided. A microcomputer having aprogram memory allows twelve hour time and the additional functions areindicated at arbitrary positions of at least a movement center position,and additional arbitrary off center positioning such as at least one ofa position on an axis at the twelve o'clock position, three o'clockposition, the six o'clock position and the nine o'clock positionaccording to the number and disposition of additional functionindicators and step motors. A microcomputer on an IC chip havingprogrammable memory controls driving of the step motors. An actuatingsignal generated by the microcomputer is determined by the dispositionof the ordinary time indicating wheel train and the additional functionindicating wheel trains. The actuating signal is adapted to variousstructures by rewriting software in the programmable memory.

An integrated circuit is provided which includes a core CPU andprogrammable memory. The programmable memory stores software commandsfor actuating the core CPU. A motor drive drives the plurality of stepmotors. A motor drive control circuit selectively supplies apredetermined drive signal to the motor drive in accordance with thesoftware commands.

The watch also includes a plurality of indicators each being driven byat least one or more step motors. At least one of the functions of themultifunction analog electronic watch is an alarm. An alarm controllingmeans in conjunction with at least one of the step motors causes atleast one of the indicators to indicate current time when the alarm timeis not set, indicate the alarm set time once the alarm time is set,indicate the current time and release the alarm set time from itsprevious setting once the alarm is activated. When the alarm set timeand the normal 12 hour time coincide, the alarm is activated and thealarm set time is then released from being set. When the alarm set timeand the current 12 hour time coincide during setting of the alarm, thequick setting of the alarm set time is inoperative.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedelectronic analog multifunction watch.

Another object of this invention is to provide an multifunctionelectronic analog watch which may be easily adapted to provide a numberof different functions within a number of different watch designs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multifunctionelectronic analog watch which facilitates manufacturing a variety ofmultifunction analog watches utilizing redundant machinery, IC masks andother parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a multifunctionelectronic analog watch which may be adapted to a variety ofconfigurations by reprogramming software rather than reconstructing theIC chip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multifunctionelectronic analog watch which simplifies operation of the watch byomitting structure which prohibits the alarm from being rung when thealarm is not to be rung again once the alarm has been activated andstructure for releasing the alarm from the ringing prohibited state whenthe alarm is being reset, while reducing the number of externaloperating members and simplifying the use of the alarm function whenused as a timer to the required alarm setting.

Still other objects and advantage of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification anddrawings.

The invention accordingly comprises features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CMOS-IC for use in a multifunction analogelectronic watch constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a chronograph circuit constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a motor drive control circuit constructedin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a reference signal forming circuitconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 5-8 are timing charts of drive pulses produced by the drivingpulse forming circuit constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a motor clock controlling circuitconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a multifunction analog electronic watchconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an hour and minute indicating wheel trainconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a second indicating wheel train;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a chronograph seconds indicating wheeltrain:

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a chronograph minute and elapsed timersecond indicating wheel train;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an alarm time setting wheel train;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a multifunction electronic timepiececonstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a face of a multifunction analog electronictimepiece constructed in accordance with the invention:

FIGS. 18a, 18b are flowcharts for the indication of normal twelve hourtime;

FIGS. 19a, 19b are flowcharts for the chronographic operation of theelectronic timepiece;

FIGS. 20a, 20b are flowcharts for the timer operation of the analogelectronic timepiece;

FIGS. 21a, 21b, 21c are flowcharts for the alarm operation of themultifunction analog electronic time piece;

FIGS. 22a, 22b and 22c are flowcharts for the alarm operation of themultifunction analog electronic timepiece in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 23a, 23b, 23c are flowcharts for the driving the hand of themultifunction analog electronic timepiece;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of a multifunction analog electronic watchconstructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a wheel train for indicating normaltwelve hour time seconds constructed in accordance with the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a multifunction analog electronic watchconstructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a multifunction analog electronic watchconstructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a wheel train for indicating normaltwelve hour time seconds constructed in accordance with the thirdembodiment invention;

FIG. 29 is a top plan view of a multifunction analog electronic watchconstructed in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a multifunction electronic watchconstructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 in which a block diagram of anintegrated circuit (CMOS-IC), generally indicated as 20, for driving amultifunction analog watch is provided. CMOS-IC 20 is a micro-computerfor controlling a multifunction electronic analog time-piece having aprogram memory 202, a data memory 204, four motor drivers 213, 214, 215and 216, a motor drive control circuit 212, a sound generator 210 and aninterrupt control circuit 218 integrally formed by a single chip with acore CPU 201 at its center.

Core CPU 201 includes an alarm unit, a register for arithmeticoperation, an address control register, a stack pointer, an instructionregister, an instruction decoder and other known structure. CPU 201 isconnected to peripheral circuits to be described below through anaddress bus (adbus) and data bus (dbus) based on the memory map I/Otechnique. An address decoder 203 receives an input from CPU 201 andprovides a decoded output to program memory 202. Program memory 202 is aprogram memory having a mask ROM of 2048 words by 12 bit configurationwhich stores the operating software for the integrated circuit. Programmemory 202 provides an operation output for CPU 201. An address decoder205 receives an output from CPU 201 along the adbus and provides adecoded output to data memory 204. Data memory 204 is a RAM of 112 wordsby four bits which is used as a timer for the various types of timercounting and as a counter for storing the position of the respectiveindicator hands. Data memory 204 provides an output and receives inputsfrom CPU 201 along the dbus.

An oscillator circuit 206, coupled to a tuning fork type oscillator 58at terminal X_(in) and X_(out), oscillates at a frequency of 32768 Hz.Oscillator circuit 206 produces an output signal φ32K φ32K of 32768 Hz.A first frequency divider circuit 208 divides signal φ32K and outputssignals φ16 of 16 Hz. A second frequency divider circuit 209successfully divides the signal φ16 of 16 Hz into a signal φ1 φ1of 1 Hz.A signal φ8 of 8 Hz is internally generated within second frequencydivider circuit 209 and read by CPU 201 through a main bus BUS. Anoscillation stop detector circuit 207 receives an input φ1 φ1K producedby first frequency divider circuit 208, detects the termination ofoscillation by oscillation circuit 206 and resets CMOS-IC 20.

The status of respective frequency divider stages within the range from8 Hz to 1 Hz can be read into core CPU 201 under the control ofsoftware. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the signal φ16 of 16 Hz, thesignal 8 of 8 Hz and φ1 of 1 Hz are used as a time interrupt (“Tint”)for performing processes such as time counting or the like. Timeinterrupt Tint occurs upon a falling edge of each signal. Reading,resetting and masking are respective interrupt factors all carried outunder the control of the software such that resetting and masking can beindependently affected for each of the interrupt factors.

A sound generator 210 receives inputs along the main bus BUS andproduces a buzzer drive signal output at a terminal AL of CMOS-IC 20.The driver frequency, ON/OFF and sound patterns of the buzzer drivesignal are controlled in accordance with the software commands whichcause data and addresses to be transmitted to sound generator 210 alongmain bus BUS.

A chronograph circuit 211 receives a φ512 input at a terminal CPproduced by first frequency divider circuit 208 to provide an output tocontrol hand drive. Chronograph circuit 211 is arranged to control handdriving of a 1/100 second hand, greatly reducing the burden exerted onthe software.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 where a block diagram for a chronographcircuit 211 is provided. A clock forming circuit 211 receives signalφ512 of 512 Hz produced by first frequency divider circuit 208 andproduces a signal φ100 of 100 Hz which acts as a reference clock for achronographic time counting as well as clock pulse Pfc of 100 Hz and3.91 ms pulse width which are utilized to form 1/100 second hand drivepulses Pf. A control signal forming circuit 2118 receives data andaddresses along main bus BUS and in response thereto produces a startsignal St for commanding start/stop of chronograph time counting, asplit signal Sp for commanding ON/OFF switching of the split indication,a chronograph reset signal Rcg for resetting chronograph time counting,a 0-position signal Rhnd for storing the 0-position of the 1/100 secondhand and a signal Drv for commanding operative/inoperative switching ofthe 1/100 second hand. AND gate 2119 receives the inputs of signal φ100and signal St and provides a gated output to a 50 preceding chronographcounter 2112. 50 50preceding chronograph counter 2112 counts the signal100 having passed AND gate 2119 and is reset by chronograph reset signalRcg input at terminal R.

A register 2113 holds the contents of chronograph counter 2112 whencontrol signal forming circuit 118 outputs split indication commandsignal Sp. A 50 50preceding hand position counter 2114 stores theindicated position of the 1/100 second hand by counting the 1/100 secondhand drive pulses Pf produced by a 1/100 second drive control circuit2117 and is reset in response to signal Rhnd output from control signal2118 to store the 0-position of the 1/100 second hand.

Identity detector circuit 2115 compares the contents of register 2113with the contents of 50 preceding hand position counter 2114 and outputsan identity signal Dty when the contents are identical. A 0-positiondetector circuit 2116 outputs a 0 detection signal Dto upon detecting 0in the hand position counter 2114. When the contents of chronographcounter 2112 and 50 preceding hand position counter 2114 are identicalduring an operative state of the 1/100 second hand and chronographictime counting or when the contents of register 2113 and 50 precedinghand position counter 2114 differ during split indication and no timecounting is occurring, or when the contents of 1/50 50 preceding handposition counter 2114 is other than zero during the inoperative state ofthe 1/100 second hand and chronograph time counting occurs, 1/100 secondhand drive control circuit 2117 passes clock pulses Pfc.

The 1/100 second hand can only be driven by a step motor C 27. (FIG. 10)A carry signal φ5 of 5 Hz output by chronograph counter 2112 causes achronograph interrupt CGint with which the software is able to advancethe processing of time counting by amounts greater than one fifth of asecond.

Returning to FIG. 1, a motor drive control circuit 212 is controlled bysoftware commands received by core CPU 201 causing addresses and data tobe transmitted along main bus BUS and provides outputs PA, PB, PC, PDfor driving respective motor drivers 213, 214, 215 and 216. As seen ingreater detail in FIG. 3, motor drive control circuit 212 includes amotor hand drive mode control circuit 219 which stores the hand drivemode of respective motors. Motor hand drive mode control circuit 219forms and outputs respective control signals Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd and Se inresponse to software commands read by core CPU 201 which in turn causedata from data memory 204 and addresses from core CPU 201 to betransmitted along main bus BUS. Control signal Sa selects forward driveI drive mode. Control signal Sb selects forward drive II drive mode.Control signal Sc selects reverse drive I drive mode. Control signal Sdselects reverse drive II and control signal Se selects forwardcorrection drive modes for driving the step motors. A hand drivereference signal forming circuit 220 receives software command inputalong BUS and forms hand drive reference clock signal Cdrv in responsethereto.

As seen in FIG. 4, hand drive reference signal forming circuit 220includes a programmable frequency divider 2205 which receives input φ256having 256 Hz output by first frequency divider 208 and forms a signalhaving a frequency 1/n the input frequency and outputting this signal asreference clock Cdrv. A three bit register 2201 stores data input fromdbus for determining the frequency of the hand drive reference clockCdrv. An address decoder 2202 receives software commands along adbus andprovides an output command 20 signal to three bit register 2201 fordetermining the frequency of hand drive reference clock Cdrv. A threebit register 2203 receives data stored in register 2201 upon eachfalling edge of hand drive reference clock Cdrv output by programmablefrequency divider 2205. A decoder 2204 outputs the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 8, 10, 16 in binary notation corresponding to data stored in register2203. Programmable frequency divider 2205 divides the input φ256 signalin accordance with the output of decoder 2204 producing clock Cdrv.

In response to software commands, hand drive reference signal formingcircuit 220 can select any one of eight values to be the frequency ofhand drive reference clock Cdrv, specifically, 128 Hz, 85.3 Hz, 64 Hz,81.2 Hz, 42.7Hz, 32 Hz, 25.6 Hz, and 16 Hz. Changing the frequency ofhand drive reference clock Cdrv is done when the data is input intoregister 2203. Data is input into register 2203 in synchronism with theoutput of hand drive reference clock Cdrv. An interval of 1/fa has to beutilized in changing the previous frequency fa of hand drive referenceclock Cdrv to subsequent frequency Fb. When forward drive I and backwarddrive I are carried in succession, the frequency of hand drive referenceclock Cdrv is limited to less than 64 Hz.

Returning to FIG. 3, motor clock control circuits 226, 227, 228 and 229are motor clock control circuits for controlling the number of handdrive pulses supplied to respective step motors A 3, B 15, C 27 and D 32in response to software commands read by core CPU 201 and hand drivereference clock Cdrv. As seen in FIG. 9, each motor clock controlcircuit 226-229 includes a control signal forming circuit 2272 which inresponse to addresses input along adbus, which are output in response tosoftware commands, outputs a signal Set Sset, a signal Sread and asignal Sset. A four bit register 2261 stores the number of hand drivepulses provided by the software input along dbus. An AND gate 2274receives hand drive reference clock Cdrv and an inverted Sread signalfrom invertor 2273 and produces a gated hand drive reference clock Cdrv.A four bit up counter 2262 counts the gated hand drive reference clockCdrv and is reset by control signal Sreset. Identity detector 2263compares the coincidence between the contents of register of 2261 andfour bit up counter 2262. Identity detector 2263 outputs identity signalDy upon detecting an identity between the contents. An all 1's detectorcircuit 2264 outputs an all 1's detection signal D15 when the contentsof register 2261 is all 1's.

A trigger signal generator 2265 includes an invertor 2266 which receivessignal Dy and provides a first input to AND gate 2268. An invertor 2267receives signal D15 and provides an inverted input to AND gate 2268. ANDgate 2268 also receives the gated hand reference clock Cdrv and providesan output to an OR gate 2270. A second AND gate 2269 receives the gatedhand drive reference clock Cdrv and signal D15 as inputs and provides asecond input to OR gate 2270 which produces an output Tr as the outputof trigger signal generator 2265.

When all 1's are present in register 2261, in one example a total offifteen, motor pulses continue to be repeatedly output until differentdata is input. When data other than all 1's is input into register 2261,motor pulses are output a number of times corresponding to that data andthen stopped until the data is reset. A bi-directional switch 2271 isturned on upon the output of control signal Sread for placing the datastored in up counter 2262 onto data buses. Control signal formingcircuit 2227 2272produces signal Sset for setting the number of handdrive pulses in register 2261, signal Sread for reading the data in upcounter 2262 and signal Sreset for resetting register 2261 and upcounter 2263.

When Sread is output, the gate Combination of invertor 2273 and AND gate2274 inhibits the passage of hand drive reference clock Cdrv. It is thenrequired to generate the signal Sreset for resetting register 2261 andfour bit up counter 2262 after reading. Also, when identity detectorcircuit 2263 detects a coincidence between the contents of register 2261and four bit up counter 2262, a motor control interrupt Mint signal isproduced. When the motor control is generated, the software can readwhich interrupt has been generated and then reset in accordance withthis read value.

Reference is again made to FIG. 3 in which trigger forming circuits 230,231, 232 and 233 produce trigger signals Sat, Sbt, Sct, Sdt and Set,respectively, in response to the trigger signals output by respectivemotor clock control circuits 226-229 and the band drive mode controlsignals Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd and Se output by motor hand drive mode controlcircuit 219.

A first drive pulse forming circuit 22 221receives trigger signal Satand outputs drive pulses Pa for driving the step motors in the forwarddrive I mode as shown in FIG. 5. A second drive pulse forming circuit222 receives trigger signal Sbt and outputs drive pulses Pd Pb fordriving the step motors in the forward drive II mode as shown in FIG. 6.A third drive pulse forming circuit 223 receives an input of Sat andoutputs drive pulse Pc for driving the step motors in the reverse driveI mode as shown in FIG. 7. A fourth drive pulse forming circuit 225224receives trigger signal Sdt and outputs drive pulses Pd for drivingthe step motors in the reverse drive 11 mode as shown in FIG. 15.

A fifth drive pulse forming circuit 225 receives trigger signal Set andoutputs pulses Pe for compensating motor driving by changing the pulsewidth in response to the load. Pulses Pe would include normal drivepulses P1, correction drive pulses P2, pulses P3 formed upon detectionof the AC magnetic field, AC magnetic detection pulses Sp1 and rotationdetecting pulses Sp2 as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No.260883/85.

Motor drive pulse selectors 234, 235, 236 and 237 receive drive pulsesPa, Pb, Pc, Pd and Pe and control signals Sa, Sb, Sc, Sd and Se tooutput drive pulses necessary for the associated step motors. Motordrive pulse selector circuits 234, 235, 236, 237 select the appropriatepulses necessary for the associated step motor from the motor drivepulses Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd and Pe in response to drive mode control signalsSa, Sb, Sc, Sd and Se. Accordingly, motor drive pulse selector circuit A234 produces a motor drive pulse PA, while motor drive pulse selectorcircuit B 235 produces a motor drive pulse PB, motor drive pulseselector C 236 produces a motor drive pulse PC and motor drive pulseselector circuit D 237 produces a motor drive pulse PD.

Returning particularly to FIG. 1, a motor driver A 213 receives input PAand provides motor drive pulses through terminals OA1, OA2 to a coil 3bof a step motor A 3. A motor driver D B 214 receives signal PD PB andproduces a motor drive pulse through terminals OB1, OB2 to a coil 15b ofa step motor B 15. Motor driver C 215 receives an input PC and Pf fromchronograph circuit 211 and produces a motor drive pulse throughterminals OC1, OC2 to a coil 27b of a step motor C 27. Motor driver D216 receives an input PD and provides a motor drive pulse across outputterminals OD1, OD2 to a coil 32d of a step motor D 32.

An input control and reset circuit 217 processes respective switchinputs applied through terminals A, B, C, D, RA1, RA2, RB1, RB2 andprocesses respective input applied through input terminals K, T and R.If an input is applied through any of switch terminals A, B, C, D or anyone of switch terminals RA1, RA2 and RB1, RB2, a switch interrupt Swintis output. When this occurs, interrupt sources are read and reset inaccordance with controls provided by the software. Each input terminalis normally brought to V_(ss) and the data is set at 0 when in the openstate and is set to 1 when connected to V_(dd).

Terminal K is a specification switching terminal which allows theselection of either one of two types of specification as dependent ondata applied at terminal K.. The reading of data at terminal K isexecuted under control of the software. Terminal R is a system resetterminal. When terminal R is connected to V_(DD), core CPU 201,frequency divider circuits 208, 209 and the other peripheral circuitsare initialized by the software.

Terminal T is a test mode conversion terminal. When the clock is inputto terminal T with RA2 terminal kept connected to V_(DD), the peripheralcircuit can be tested in any one of 16 test modes. The principle testmodes include a forward drive I verification mode, a forward drive IIverification mode, a reverse drive I verification mode, a reverse driveII verification mode, a correction drive verification mode and achronograph 1/100 second verification mode. In these verification modes,the relevant motor drive pulses are automatically issued to the outputterminal of the respective motor drive pulses.

System reset can be effected with simultaneous application of switchinputs other than connecting terminal R2RA2to V_(DD). The presentintegrated circuit is arranged so that a system reset may also beforcibly implemented by the hardware upon simultaneous input throughinputs A and C, B and RA2, as well as through any one of A, B and C, RA2and RB2. There is also a frequency divider circuit reset and aperipheral circuit reset as reset functions which can be processed bycore CPU 201 under software control. When the peripheral circuit resetis performed, the frequency divider circuits are reset.

An interrupt control circuit 218 receives each interrupt signal, Tint,CGint, Mint, Swint and in response to software control inputs and aninput from input control and reset signal forming circuit 217,prioritizes the respective interrupts. These include storage of theinterrupts until reading, reset after reading with respective switchinginterrupts, chronograph interrupts and motor control interrupts: Aconstant voltage circuit 200 forms a low constant voltage of about 1.2volts from the voltage of battery 2, about 1.58 volts, applied betweenV_(DD) and V_(SS) and then outputs to the V_(s1) terminal.

By constructing an integrated circuit as described above for driving astep motor, an integrated circuit is provided which has motor driversable to drive four step motors simultaneously. By including a motor handdrive mode control circuit, drive pulse forming circuit and motor drivepulse selector circuits the energizing of four step motors may beaccomplished in any one of three forward drive modes and two backwarddrive modes, independently under the control of the software.Additionally, by providing a hand drive reference signal forming circuitthe hand drive speed of each step motor can be freely changed. Byproviding four motor clock forming circuits corresponding to four stepmotors in a one to one relation, the number of hand drive pulses fordriving each motor may be freely set under the control of the software.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings wherein amultifunction electronic analog watch, generally indicated at 100, andconstructed in accordance with the invention, is depicted. Multifunctionelectronic analog watch 100 includes a main plate 1 formed of resinmolding with a battery 2 supported thereon. A first step motor A 3supported on main plate 1 drives the normal twelve hour time displayindicators. Step motor A 3 has a coil core 3a of a highly permeablematerial. A coil block 3b is made of a coil wound around coil core 3a.Step motor A 3 also includes a coil frame and coil lead substrate havingopposed ends subjected to terminal processing by conducting electricity.A stator 3c is formed of a highly permeable material. A rotor 4 isrotatably supported on main plate 1 and includes a rotor magnet 4b and arotor pinion 4a.

A fifth wheel 5 including a fifth gear 5a and a fifth pinion 5b isrotatably mounted between main plate 1 and a wheel train bridge 53.Similarly, a fourth wheel 6 having a fourth gear 6a and a fourth pinion6b, a third wheel 7 having a third gear 7a and a third pinion 7b and asecond wheel 8 having a second gear 8a and a second pinion 8b are eachrotatably mounted between main plate 1 and wheel bridge 53. Second wheel8 is formed as two distinct parts; second gear 8a being friction fitabout second pinion 8b. A minute wheel having a minute gear 9a and aminute pinion 9b is rotatably mounted between main plate 1 and wheelbridge 53 while an hour wheel 10 having an hour gear 10a is rotatablymounted about a projecting portion la 1a of main plate 1.

As seen in FIG. 11, the wheels mesh with each other to form a wheeltrain for driving the normal twelve hour time hour and minuteindicators. Rotor pinion 4a meshes with fifth gear 5a while fifth pinion5b meshes with fourth gear 6a. Fourth pinion 6b meshes with third gear7a and third pinion 7b in turn meshes with second gear 8a. Second wheel8 and hour wheel 10 are positioned at the center of the watch. Thiswheel train arrangement is situated so that the minute and hourindication of normal twelve hour time is provided at the center of thewatch movement.

A reduction in speed is realized between rotor 4 and second gear 8a. Thespeed reduction ratio of the wheel train is set at 1/1800. Thus, whenrotor 4 is rotated at a speed of half a turn per second, second gear 8ais rotated once each 3,600 seconds, i.e. 360° each 60 minutes, enablingthe indication of minutes for displaying normal twelve hour time. Aminute hand 11 is fit over a distal end of second wheel 8 to provide theindication of elapsed minutes.

Additionally, second pinion 8b meshes with minute gear 9a and minutepinion 9b meshes with hour wheel 10. The speed reduction ratio realizedfrom second pinion Bb to hour wheel 10 is set to be 1/12 to enable theindication of normal twelve hour time hours. An hour hand 12 is fit overa distal end of hour wheel 10 to indicate the hour of normal twelve hourtime.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 10 and 12, a spindle isdisposed within timepiece 100 in the general position of nine o'clock ofthe movement. A small second wheel 13 having a gear 13a is disposedbetween the spindle and a second collar counter spring 65. Fifth pinion5b meshes with small second gear 13a Utilizing the train wheelarrangement of rotor 4 and fifth wheel 5, small second wheel 13 may bedriven to provide an indication of normal twelve hour time seconds at aposition at nine o'clock of the timepiece movement.

Again, the speed is reduced between rotor 4b and small second wheel 13to display real time seconds. The speed reduction ratio between rotorpinion 4a and small second gear 13a is set at 1/30. Accordingly, whenrotor 4 is rotated at a rate of 180 per second, small second wheel 13makes a full revolution each 60 seconds, i.e., small second gear 13arotates through 6° per second, thereby enabling the indication of theseconds for displaying normal twelve hour time. A small second hand 14is fit over a distal end of the small second wheel 13 to indicate realtime seconds.

Referring to FIG. 15 10, a second step motor B 15 is provided fordriving a chronograph second indicator. Step motor B 15 includes a coilcore 15a formed of a highly permeable material. A coil block 15b isformed of a coil wound around coil core 15a. A coil lead substratemounted about a coil frame has its opposite ends positioned to besubject to electrical conduction. A stator 15c is formed of a highlypermeable material. A rotor 16 mounted between main plate 1 and wheeltrain 53 includes a rotor magnet 16b and a rotor pinion 16a. As alsoshown in FIG. 13, a 1/5 second chronograph (“CG”) first intermediatewheel 17 including a gear 17a and pinion 17b is rotatably mountedbetween main plate 1 and wheel bridge 53. Similarly, a 1/5 second CGintermediate wheel 18 having a second intermediate gear 18a and secondintermediate gear 18b and a 1/5 second CG wheel 19 having a second COwheel gear 19a are rotatably mounted between base 1 and wheel bridge 53.

Wheels 17, 18 and 19 mesh to form a wheel train for driving thechronograph second indicator. Rotor pinion 16a meshes with 1/5 second CGfirst intermediate gear 17a and 1/5 second CO first intermediate pinion17b meshes with 1/5 second CG second intermediate gear 18a. 1/5 CGsecond intermediate pinion 18b meshes with 1/5 second CG gear 19a. 1/5second CG wheel 19 is positioned at the center of the timepiecemovement. With the above train arrangement, chronograph secondindication is given at the center of the timepiece movement.

Again, the rotational speed is reduced between rotor 16 and 1/5 secondCG wheel 19. The speed reduction ratio provided by the wheel trainextending from rotor pinion 16a to 1/5 second CG gear 19a is set at1/150.

Integrated circuit chip (“CMOS-IC”) 20 for controlling the operation ofelectronic timepiece 100 is mounted on main plate 1. CMOS-IC 20 producesan electric signal rotating rotor 16 through 180° each 1/5 seconds. 1/5second CG wheel 19 is rotated at a speed of 1.2° per fifth of a second,i.e., it rotates 1.2 by five steps each second, enabling the indicationof chronograph seconds in units of 1/5 seconds. A 1/5 second CG hand 21is fit over a distal end of 1/5 second CG wheel 19 to indicate thepassing of chronograph seconds. 1/5 second CG hand 21 also serves as atimer setter hand for setting the timer time period.

Reference is now made more particularly to FIG. 14 wherein a third stepmotor C 27 drives the indicator for indicating chronograph minutes andan indication of timer elapsed time seconds. Step motor C 27 includes acoil core 27a formed of a highly permeable material and a coil block 27bformed by a coil wound around coil core 27a. A coil lead substratehaving opposite ends operated on by conducting electricity through theterminals thereof is provided along with a coil frame. A stator 27cformed of a highly permeable material is magnetically coupled to a rotor28 having a rotor magnet 28b and a rotor pinion 28a.

A minute CG intermediate wheel 29 having an intermediate gear 29a andintermediate pinion 29b is rotatably supported between wheel bridge 53and main plate 1. A minute CG wheel 30 having a minute CG gear 30a isdisposed in a spindle located at the twelve o'clock position of thewatch movement and supported by second collar counter spring 65. Rotorpinion 28a of rotor 28 meshes with minute CG intermediate gear 29a.Minute CG intermediate pinion 29b meshes with minute CG gear 30aproviding a wheel train for the indication of chronographic minutes andelapsed time timer seconds. The train wheel construction allows both thechronograph minute indication and the timer elapsed time secondindication to be performed on a spindle located at the twelve o'clockposition of the watch movement.

The speed is reduced between rotor pinion 28a and minute CG gear 30a Thespeed reduction ratio is set at 1/30.

When multifunction electronic analog watch 100 is in a chronograph mode,CMOS-IC 20 produces an electric signal causing rotor 28 to be rotated ata rate 360° minute, i.e. 180° times two steps. Therefore, minute CGwheel 30 rotates at a rate of 12° per minute, making a 360° rotation inthirty minutes enabling a chronographic minute indication of a thirtyminute time period.

A minute CG hand 31 is fit over a distal end of minute CG wheel 30 toprovide chronograph minute indication. Minute CG hand 31 working incombination with 1/5 second CG hand 21 permits chronograph indicationsranging from a minimum readout of 1/5 seconds to a maximum readout of 30minutes.

When in an elapsed time timer mode, CMOS-IC 20 provides an electricsignal causing rotor 28 to be rotated in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation performed in the chronograph mode. The rotation ofrotor 28 advances at a rate of 180° by one step per second. Minute CGhand 31 is rotated counterclockwise in one second units, thereby givingan indication of timer elapsed time seconds based upon one turn eachsixty seconds.

Simultaneously. CMOS-IC produces an electric signal causing rotor 16 torotate in a direction opposite to the chronographic mode at a rate of180° by five steps per minute. Therefore, 1/5 second CG hand 21 isrotated counterclockwise at a rate of 6° per minutes giving theindication of timer elapsed minutes. The timer setting may be adjustedusing a second winding stem 23 supported on main plate 1. When secondwinding stem 23 is held at a first step, each push of a switch B 25rotates rotor 16 through 180° by five steps and 1/5 second CG hand 21 6°(1 minute on the timepiece dial). Then, the elapsed time timer can beset within a maximum range of sixty minutes.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 10 and 15 wherein a step motor D 32supported on main plate 1 drives the indicators for indicating the alarm(“AL”) setting time. Step motor D 32 comprises a coil core 32a made of ahighly permeable material. A coil block 32b is formed by a coil woundaround coil core 32a. A coil frame and a coil lead substrate areprovided, the coil lead substrate having opposite terminal ends subjectto electric conductivity. A stator 32c is formed of a highly permeablematerial. A rotor 28 including a rotor pinion 33a and a rotor magnet 33bis rotatably supported on main plate 1.

An alarm intermediate wheel 34 having an intermediate wheel gear 34a andintermediate wheel pinion 34b and AL minute wheel 36 having an AL minutewheel gear 36a and AL minute wheel pinion 36b are rotatably supportedbetween main plate and wheel bridge 53. AL center minute wheel 35 havingan AL center minute gear 35a and an AL center minute pinion 35b and ALhour wheel 37 having an AL hour wheel gear 37a are supported on aspindle located at the six o'clock position of the timepiece movement.

The above wheels form a wheel train providing an alarm setting and timeindication on the spindle located at the 6 o'clock position of thetimepiece movement. As seen in FIG. 6 15, rotor pinion 33a meshes withAL intermediate wheel gear 34a and AL intermediate wheel pinion 34b inturn meshes with AL center minute wheel gear 35a. AL center minutepinion 35b meshes with AL minute gear 36a and AL minute pinion 36b inturn meshes with AL hour wheel 37.

To control movement of the alarm setting time indicators, the wheeltrain reduces the rotation speed transmitted from rotor pinion 33a to ALcenter minute wheel gear 35a. The speed reduction ratio provided betweenAL center minute gear 35a and rotor pinion 33a is 1/30 while the speedreduction ratio provided by the wheel train from AL center minute wheelpinion 35b to AL hour wheel gear 37 is set to be 1/12. An AL minute hand38 is fit over a distal end of AL center minute wheel 35 and an AL hourhand 39 is fit over a distal end of hour wheel 37.

The alarm time setting indicator is operated by setting a second windingstem 23 to a first step placing electronic timepiece 100 in an alarm ONmode. CMOSIC 20 provides an electric signal causing rotor 33 to berotated through 180° each time a switch C 26 is pushed. Correspondingly,AL minute hand 38 is rotated through 6°, one minute on the dial, and ALhour hand 39 rotates through 0.5°. Therefore, the alarm time can be setbetween a range of one minute and 12 hours. By continuing to push switchC 26, AL minute hand 38 and AL hour hand 39 continuously run at anaccelerating speed, so that the alarm time may be set in a short time.When the alarm setting time as indicated by AL minute hand 38 and ALhour hand 39 coincide with the indicated normal 12 hour time, an alarmis sounded. When second winding stem 23 is set to the zero step,electronic timepiece 100 is in an alarm OFF mode in which the AL minutehand 38 and AL hour hand 39 indicate the normal 12 hour time. When thisoccurs. CMOS-IC 20 produces an electric signal causing rotor 33 to berotated through 180 per minute. Accordingly, the AL minute hand 38 isdriven in minute unit increments.

Reference is now made to FIG. 16 in which a circuit diagram of theconnection between CMOS-IC 20 and other electric elements of electronictimepiece 100 are provided. Silver oxide cell battery 2 provides powerto CMOS-IC 20 at a terminal V_(SS). Coil block 3d of step motor A 3 iscoupled to CMOS-IC 20 at terminals OA1, OA2. Coil block 15b of stepmotor B 15 is coupled to CMOS-IC 20 at terminals OB1. OB2. Switch A 24.switch B 25 and switch C 26 are connected at input terminals A, B and Crespectively. Coil block 27b of step motor C 27 is coupled to CMOS-IC 20at terminals OC1, OC2. Coil block 32b of step motor D 32 is coupled atterminals OD1, OD2. A booster coil 55 provides an input to a minimoldedtransistor 56 having a protector diode 56a and are coupled to terminalAL for energizing a piezoelectric buzzer 64 connected across boostercoil 55. Piezoelectric buzzer 64 is mounted on the back-case of thewatch. A F chip capacitor 57 is coupled to CMOS-IC 20 for suppressingvoltage fluctuations of a constant voltage circuit built within CMOS-IC20. A tuning fork type micro-crystal oscillator 58 is coupled to CMOS-IC20 at terminals X_(in), and X_(out) to provide a source for anoscillator circuit built in CMOS-IC 20. A switch 46a formed in a potionof yolk 46 (FIG. 1 10) is coupled to CMOS-IC 20 between terminals RA1,RA2. A switch 59a formed in a portion of second setting lever 23 iscoupled to CMOS-IC 20 between terminals RB1, RB2.

Switches 24. 25 and 26 are each push button type switches that allow auser to apply an input therethrough only when they are pushed. Switch46a is a switch which interlocks with first winding stem 22 and ispositioned so that terminal RA1 is closed when first winding stem 22 isset in its first step and closes terminal RA2 when winding stem 22 is inits second step. Switch 46a is opened when winding step 22 is at anormal position. Switch 59a acts in cooperation with second winding stem23 and is arranged so that it closes terminal RB1 when second windingstem 23 is in a first step encloses terminal RB2 when stem 23 is at itssecond step. Switch 59a is open when stem 23 is set at a normalposition.

Reference is now made to FIG. 17 wherein a top plan view ofmultifunction electronic analog watch 100 is provided. Multifunctionelectronic analog watch 100 includes a bezzle case 40 and a dial 41provided within bezzle case 40 to provide a watch face. An area 42 ofdial 41 provides indication of normal 12 hour time seconds. An area 43of dial 41 indicates chronograph minutes and the elapsed seconds of thetimer. An area 44 of dial 41 provides indication of the alarm settingtime. Normal 12 hour time is indicated utilizing small second hand 14driven in units of seconds, minute hand 11 and hours hand 12 asdescribed above.

Adjustment of the normal 12 hour time is made by withdrawing firstwinding stem 22 to the second step. As shown in FIG. 10, in thisposition, fourth wheel 6 is restricted by the train wheel setting lever47 which engages with setting lever 45 and yoke 46, stopping rotor 4 tosuspend drive motion of small second hand 14. On rotating the firstwinding stem about its axis, winding torque is transmitted to minutewheel 9 through a sliding pinion 48 and a setting wheel 50. Becausesecond gear 8a is slideably coupled to second pinion 8b, setting wheel50, minute wheel 9, second pinion 8b and hour wheel 10 are all rotatableeven when fourth wheel 6 is restricted in motion. Accordingly minutehand 11 and hour hand 12 can be rotated allowing the user to set thosehands to any desired time.

Reference is now made to FIG. 18a, 18b in which a flow chart forindicating normal twelve hour time by electronic timepiece 100 isprovided. A 1 Hz interrupt is input in accordance with a step 500causing CPU 201 to determine whether switch 46a is OFF or ON at terminalRA2 in a step 502. If switch 46a is OFF at terminal RA2, then a forwardcompensation driving control signal for step motor A 3 is output bymotor hand drive mode control circuit 219 of motor drive control circuit212 and a forward correction drive for motor A 3 is performed in a step504. In a step 506, the number of hand drive pulses is set to 1 in themotor clock control circuit A 226.

If switch 46a is on at terminal RA2, such as in a time correction state,then the motor driving is stopped in accordance with a step 510. Ifswitch 46a is on a terminal RA2 and there is a switch input in a step512, such as during a time correction state, then switch 46a is turnedOFF at terminal RA2 in accordance with a step 514. Both frequencydivider circuit 208 and 209 are then instantaneously reset so that themotor will be driven after a one second interval in accordance with astep 516.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 19a, 19b in which a flow chart foroperating the electronic analog timepiece 100 in a chronographic mode isprovided. In these flow charts “CG START” indicates the state in whichtime counting occurs and a split signal has been produced. Secondwinding stem 23 is set at its normal position operating switch 59a inaccordance with a step 512 so that switch 59a is OFF at both terminalsRB1, RB2 in accordance with a step 514. This places electronic analogtimepiece 100 in a chronographic mode. By depressing switch A in a step516, the chronograph may be ultimately stopped or reset in a step 518 orstarted in a step 524. If the chronograph has been stopped or reset thechronograph circuit is started in a step 520 and the occurrence of “CGstart” representing the state in which the chronograph counts time andthe split indication is generated within chronograph circuit 211 iswritten within data memory 204 in a step 522.

To start a chronograph counting a CG interrupt signal CGint is producedby chronograph circuit 211 in a step 586. Upon each CG interrupt, the CG1/5 second counter formed in a portion of data memory 204 is incrementedby 1 in a step 588. The chronograph count and the split command areagain produced in accordance with a step 590. 1/5 second CG Hand 21 isdriven forward by one step equal to one fifth of a second in a step 592.It is determined whether the 1/5 second counter has counted one minutein a step 594. Whenever the 1/5 second counter has counted one minute, aCG minute counter also formed in a portion of data memory 204 isincremented by one and CG hand 31 is driven forward one minute in a step596. Upon completion of the process, the process is ended in a step 598.CG circuit 211 is stopped in a step 526 and “CG stop” is written in thememory in step 528.

If the B switch is activated in a step 520 then the chronograph againenters the CG start status in a step 522 and writes “CG split” in thememory in a step 524. If the B switch is activated and the electronicanalog timepiece 100 is only in split status in accordance with a step536, the difference between the chronograph counted time and the handposition is calculated in a step 538. A CG start mode is produced in astep 539 to fast drive both the 1/5 second CG hand 21 and a minute COhand 31 to indicate the calculated value which is the counted time in astep S40. The “CG start” is then written in data memory 204 in a step542.

If the B switch is applied when electronic analog timepiece 100 is notin a chronographic time counting mode, such as when chronographicfunction has stopped in a step 544, then chronographic time counting isreset. The difference between the chronographic hand position and the0-position or a reference position is calculated in a step 546. Therespective CG hands are fast driven to the indicated 0-position in astep 548 as will be shown later in the flowchart of FIG. 22. “CG start”is written in memory 204 in a step 550 and the chronographic circuit 211is reset in a step 552.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 20a, 20b in which a flowchart foroperating electronic analog timepiece 100 in an elapsed timer mode isprovided. The timer must first be set to the desired time period. Thetimer setting is indicated by the 1/5 second CG hand 21. Second windingstem 23 is set to a first step to activate switch 59a in a step 600 sothat switch 59a is on at the RB1 terminal in a step 602. When switch 59ahas been turned on at terminal RB1, electronic analog timepiece 100 isin the timer mode. When switch B is activated in a step 606 during atimer setting in step 608, the timer setting time is incremented by oneminute in a step 610. The 1/5 second CG hand 21 is driven forward by oneminute or five step increments in a step 612. The graduations 41a ofdial 41 indicated by the 1/5 seconds CG hand 21 represents the timersetting time period. The timer setting time period may be set to a valueas great as sixty minutes.

Activation of switch A 24 starts and stops a timing processes inaccordance with a step 604. The timer function is started in a step 618,and an interrupt signal is provided in a step 624. To start the timer ina step 626, the minute CG hand 31 is driven counterclockwise in units ofminutes and 1/5 second CG hand 21 moves to subtract one second from thetimer setting time in a step 627. It is determined whether the timeremaining on the timer is more than one minute in a step 632. If theremainder timer time is greater than one minute and the minute CG hand31 is driven backwards step in a step 634. When a timer time period isset at more than one minute or the remaining time period is less thanone minute as determined in a step 636, the minute CG hand 31 is stoppedand the 1/5 CG hand 21 is driven backwards to count down the elapsedtime in the unit seconds in a step 642.

It is determined whether the time remaining in the elapsed time periodis within a range of one to three seconds in a step 628. If theremaining time falls in this range an output warning sound issuancecommand is output to sound generator 210 in a step 638 and the 1/5second CG is continued to be driven backwards in a step 642. When theremaining time is determined to equal zero seconds in a step 630, a timesound issuance command is output to sound generator 210 in accordancewith step 640. The output stops in accordance with a step 643. Once anelapsed time period has been completed, the “timer stop” is written indata memory 204 in a step 620. Additionally, it is determined whetherthe timer is set or stopped in a step 614. If the timer is set or stopthe “timer start” is stored in data memory 240 in a step 616. The timeroperations ends in a step 622.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 21a-21c in which flowcharts for operatingthe alarm mode of multifunctional electronic analog watch 100 aredepicted. The alarm setting time is indicated on area 44 of dial 41 ofmultifunctional electronic analog watch 100. As shown in FIG. 21a,second stem 23 is switched on to the first stage in step 686 whichswitches terminal RB1 ON which is determined in a step 688. It isdetermined whether or not switch C26 is turned on in step 690. If switchC26C 26is turned on then AL minute hand 38 and AL hour hand 39 aredriven forward set time is incremented by one minute increments in astep 692. AL minute hand 38 is then driven forward by one step in a step693. If switch C26C 26is continuously pushed, the AL minute hand 38 andthe AL hour hand 39 are advanced at an accelerated rate thus shorteningthe alarm setting time.

As shown in FIG. 21b an interrupt signal is provided to the alarm instep 695. It is then determined whether terminal RB2 is ON or OFF in astep 696. If terminal RB2 is OFF, the time shown at area 44 correspondsto the current 12 hour time. The current 12 hour time displayed at area44 (“alarm current time”) is then increased by one second in a step 697.It is determined whether the minutes value has increased in a step 698.If the minutes value has increased second stem 31 is then put in thezero step and it is determined whether terminal RB1 is ON in a step 699.If terminal RB1 is OFF, the AL minute hand 38 is increased by one stepin a step 702. If the RB1 terminal is ON, it is determined whether ornot the current time is equal to the alarm set time in a step 700. Ifthe two times are equal then a signal is output to sound generator 210in a step 701 indicating the occurrence of the alarm set time.

As seen in FIG. 21c when second stem 23 is switched in a step 704 fromthe zero step to the first step, it is determined whether terminal RB2has been switched from ON to OFF in a step 705. If terminal RB2 has notbeen switched to OFF, it is determined whether or not terminal RB1 hasbeen switched from OFF to ON in step 706. If terminal RB1 has not beenswitched from OFF to ON, it is determined whether or not terminal RB1has been switched from ON to OFF in a step 710. If terminal RB1 has beenswitched from ON to OFF then the difference between the alarm set timeand the alarm current time is calculated in a step 711 and AL minutehand 38 and AL hour hand 39 are automatically quick driven to the timeindicated by the value obtained by subtracting the alarm current timefrom the alarm set time in a step 709. The display then indicates thealarm set time rather than the alarm current time. When second stem 23is changed from the first step to the zero step, and RB1 is switchedfrom OFF to ON, the difference between the alarm set time and alarmcurrent time is determined in a step 707 and AL hour hand 39 isautomatically quick driven to the time value which is obtained bysubtracting the alarm set time from the alarm current time in a step709. The display then indicates the current alarm time rather than thealarm set time.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 22a-22c in which the functioning of thealarm to operate two separate alarm modes in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention is provided. As seen in FIG. 22a when switchC26C 26is pushed in a step 900, while the second stem 23 is kept in thezero step or the first step it is then determined whether terminal RB2is ON in a step 902.

When stem 23 is kept in the zero step or the first step, terminal RB2 isturned OFF. It is determined whether or not RB2 has been turned from OFFto ON at a step 904. When RB2 is turned OFF, forward drive 11 isselected by motor driving pulse selecting circuit D237D 237in accordancewith instructions from CPU in a step 906. The value 15 is set in aregister of trigger generating circuit D233D 233(hereinafter “motorpulse register”) in a step 908 and a quick driving correction of thealarm hour/minute hands has begun. In an alarm mode A, that is, whensecond stem 23 is kept at the zero step, it is determined whether or notRB1 is OFF in a step 910. When terminal RB1 is OFF, the alarm isinoperative and therefore is in an alarm activating prohibited state ina step 912. The beginning of the alarm set time correction is set at thealarm set time and the alarm ringing prohibited state is converted to analarm set state in a step 914. The alarm set time of mode A and thecurrent 12 hour time then correspond to each other in a step 915.

When a motor pulse is generated 15 15times, a control interrupt isgenerated by trigger generating circuit D233D 233in a step 916 as shownin FIG. 22b. When the control interrupt is generated it is thendetermined whether terminal RB1 is ON in a step 918. If the terminal isON then the value 15 15is added to an alarm time B of an alarm mode B ina step 920 and the value 15 15is re-input into the motor pulse registerduring the alarm mode B, thus continuing alarm time correction.

If terminal RB1 is not ON as determined in step 918, then the alarm isin the alarm mode A. It is then determined whether the differencebetween the current ordinary 12 hour time and the alarm set time A isgreater than 15 in a step 922. If the difference determined in step 922is greater than 15, 15 is added to the alarm time in A in a step 924.The difference between the current time and the alarm time is thenrecalculated in a step 926 and if the result is less than 15 asdetermined in a step 928 the value is set in the motor pulse generatorin a step 930. In this method, because the alarm hour/minute handsindicate the current time the next control interrupt is generated and azero is input to the motor pulse generator in a step 932. Correction isinterrupted and alarm ringing is prohibited in a step 934 and the alarmset state is cleared.

As seen in FIG. 2c to ring both alarm mode A and alarm mode B, a 1 Hzinterrupt signal is first counted in a step 970. It is determinedwhether terminal RB2 is ON in a step 972. If it is determined thatterminal RB2 is OFF then 1 second is added to the current time in a step974 and it is determined whether this addition to the seconds value hasincreased the minutes value in a step 976. If the minutes value has beenincreased it is determined whether terminal RB1 is on in a step 978. Ifterminal RB1 is ON then it is determined whether the alarm set time foralarm mode B is equal to the current time in a step 988. If the alarmset time does equal the current time than an output alarm ring commandfor alarm mode B is output to sound generator 210 in a step 990 toindicate the occurrence of alarm set time B.

If however, it is determined that terminal RB1 is OFF in step 978 it isthen determined whether the watch is in alarm ring prohibition state ina step 980. If the watch is not in the alarm ring prohibition state thenit is determined whether the alarm set time of alarm mode A is equal tothe current time in a step 982. If the alarm set time or alarm mode Adoes equal the current time then an alarm ring command is output tosound generator 210 in a step 984 and the watch is then put into analarm ring prohibition state for alarm mode A in a step 986.

If it is determined that the watch does not have an initial alarm ringprohibition state in step 980 then the alarm is not rung and the alarmAL minute hand 38 is driven in one minute increments through theselection of forward driving mode 1 in a step 992. A value of 1 is inputto the motor pulse generator in a step 994. Accordingly, in the alarm Amode, alarm ringing is prohibited and the alarm set state is releasedonce the alarm has been rung.

Returning to FIG. 22a, when switch C 26is turned from ON to OFF in astep 936, an up counter 2262 (“motor pulse up counter”) ends the quickdriving of AL minute hand 38. Inputs are written into motor pulse upcounter 2262 in a step 938. It is then determined whether terminal RB1is in the ON state in a step 940. When terminal RB1 is OFF, the ALminute hand 38 has been advanced by a value calculated from the timewhen the previous control interrupt was generated in a step 942.Therefore a correction is made for the advancing of the time indication.Then, in alarm mode A mode when the alarm time and current time aredetermined to coincide in a step 944, the ringing of the alarm isprohibited in a step 946 so that the alarm is not set. The motor pulseregister and up counter are then reset in a step 948. If terminal RB1 isdetermined to be ON at step 940 then the value is added to the alarmmode B in a step 950 and the motor pulse register and up counter arereset in a step 948.

In the embodiment described above, the alarm controlling means controlsthe current time, the alarm set time A and the alarm set time B, eachhaving an absolute value. However, a relative value may be given forcontrolling the alarm set time as the difference between the alarm settime A and the current time and the difference between the alarm settime B and the current time. Additionally, in the embodiment thecontrolling means utilizes CPU 201. However, a logic circuit may besubstituted for CPU 201. A correction of the ordinary time is carriedout by turning the second stem 23 while in the second step. AL clutch 49and AL setting wheel 51 shown in FIG. 10 are coupled to second stem 23and correct the 12 hour ordinary time display.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 23a-23c in which flowcharts for motordriving the indicator hands of a multifunction electronic analog watch100 are depicted. FIG. 23a illustrates a hand drive method when thenumber of drive pulses applied to the motor, as counted by the all 1'sdetector, is less than 14. The motor hand drive are driven in a normalmode in accordance with the step 650. It is determined whether reverseor forward drive 1 pulses are being produced in a step 652. If thesepulses are being produced the reference clock is set to 64 Hz in a step656. The hand drive mode is then set in step 658 and a number of pulsesin register 2261 is set in a step 660. If no backward or forward drivepulses are detected in step 652, the reference clock is set to 128 Hz toperform fast driving in accordance with a method step 664.

To perform fast driving, control interrupt is provided in a step 676 tointerrupt operation to allow interrupt of the fast drive motor in a step678. During operation of the fast drive motor it is determined whetherthe number of output pulses is larger than 14 in a step 680. If thenumber of pulses is less than 14, then the number of pulses is input tomotor pulse register 2261 in a step 662 682. If the number of pulses isgreater than 14, 15 pulses are subtracted from the number of outputpulses in a step 684. The reference clock Cdrv is set to 128 Hz in astep 666 accelerating motor driving. A forward drive II is input in astep 668 and fifteen pulses are input into register 2261 in a step 667670. Fifteen pulses are then subtracted from the number of output pulsesin a step 672.

By providing a multifunction analog electronic watch which utilizes anIC as well as software loaded in a program memory, a watch which is moreadaptable to various function specifications is provided. Additionally,software can be developed within one half to one third the period oftime in which a new random logic IC which performs the same functionscan be developed, thus considerably shortening the period in which theentire IC is developed. Accordingly, when changes in the functionsspecification occur or functions are added during development, thesoftware can be easily modified to adapt to such a watch thus providingan IC for analog electronic watches which are capable of satisfyingdiversified watch designs and watch functions to meet consumer demands.

Reference is now made FIG. 24 wherein a second embodiment of amultifunction electronic analog watch, generally indicated at 100′,constructed in accordance with the invention is provided. Likestructures are indicated with like numerals, the difference inembodiments being that in multifunction electronic analog watch 100′three step motors are utilized to provide multifunction operation.

Step motor D 32 has been removed from electronic analog watch 100 alongwith the alarm function and timer function. Additionally, ALintermediate wheel 34, AL minute wheel 35, AL minute wheel and pinion36, AL hour wheel and pinion 37, second stem 23, AL hour wheel andpinion 37, second stem 23, AL drum wheel 49, AL pinon 51, switch C26C26and second setting lever 59 are also removed as not being required foranalog electronic watch 100′ which does not have the alarm function.Further, in watch 100 a small wheel 13 was positioned on an axis at thenine o'clock position of the watch movement. Accordingly, the twelvehour time seconds were indicated at that position. However, inmultifunction electronic analog watch 100′ small second wheel 13 ispositioned on an axis at the six o'clock position of the watch movement,thereby indicating the twelve hour seconds at the six o'clock movementposition.

As seen in FIG. 25, a small second intermediate wheel having smallsecond intermediate wheel gear 60a is rotatably supported between resinplate 1 and wheel train bridge 53. Fourth gear 6a engages with smallsecond intermediate gear 60a which in turn engages with second gear 13a.Accordingly, the rotation of rotor 4 is transferred through small secondintermediate wheel 60 to small second wheel 13. A reduction gear ratiobetween rotor 4 and small second wheel 13 is set at 1/30. Small secondhand 14 is positioned on a distal end of small second wheel 13 to bedriven to indicate seconds of ordinary time.

Chronograph second indication is controlled by step motor D15D 15asdiscussed in connection with multifunction electronic analog watch 100.A chronograph minute indication is controlled by step motor C27C 27in amanner identical to multifunction electronic analog watch 100.

Reference is now made FIG. 26 in which a plan view of multifunctionwatch 100′ is provided indicating the appearance of the watch face.Small second hand 14 for indicating twelve hour time seconds ispositioned at the six o'clock position of face 41. Because alarm andtimer function is not provided by multifunction electronic analog watch100′, only a first stem 22 is provided and only switches A24A 24and B25B25are necessary. The hour and minute indications of twelve hour time andchronographic indication are the same as in multifunction electronicanalog watch 100.

As can be seen from FIGS. 24, 25, 26 multifunction electronic analogwatch 100′ provides different functions and incorporates a differentstructure than multifunction electronic analog watch 100. However, byproviding IC 20 as depicted in FIG. 1 which includes data memory 204 andprogram memory 202 the same IC may be used to control both electronicanalog watches by merely changing the software contained within thememory.

Reference is now made FIGS. 27 and 28 in which a multifunctionelectronic analog watch, generally indicated as 100″, constructed inaccordance with a third embodiment of the invention is provided. Inmultifunction electronic analog watch 100″ and only the functions oftwelve hour time indication and an alarm are provided. Accordingly, stepmotor B 15 of step motor C 27 are removed from multifunction electronicanalog 100. The chronograph function and the elapsed time numberfunction are removed so that 1/5 second CG first intermediate wheel 17,1/5 second CG second intermediate wheel 18, 1/5 second CG wheel 19,minute CG intermediate wheel 29 and minute CG wheel 30 are not requiredand have been removed.

Additionally, in multifunction electronic analog watch 100, small secondwheel 13 was positioned on an axis at the six o'clock direction of thewatch movement to indicate twelve hour ti═ time seconds. However, inmultifunction electronic analog watch 100″, small second wheel 13 isremoved and replaced by a centered intermediate wheel 61 and a centeredsecond wheel 62 supported between main plate 1 and wheel train bridge 53at the center of multifunction electric analog watch 100″ to allow theindication of seconds at the center of the watch.

As can be seen in greater detail in FIG. 28, center second wheel 62includes a center second gear 62a and center intermediate 61wheel isformed with a center intermediate gear 61a. Fourth wheel gear 6a mesheswith center intermediate gear 61 which in turn meshes with center secondgear 62a to transmit the rotation of rotor 4 to second wheel 8. Thereduction gear ratio between rotor 4 and center second wheel 62 is 1/30.A center second hand 63 is positioned on center second wheel 62 which isdriven to cause the indication of twelve hour time seconds. Theindication of hours and minutes for twelve hour time as well asindication of alarm time utilizing step motor D32D 32are performed in amanner identical to that in multifunction electronic analog watch 100.

Reference is now made to FIG. 29 in which a top plan view ofmultifunction electronic analog watch 100″ is provided to highlight theappearance of the watch face 41. Twelve hour time is indicated by centersecond hand 63 provided at the center of watch face 41. Additionally,minute hand 11 and hour hand are also disposed centrally. The method forcorrecting twelve hour time is similar to that of multifunctionelectronic analog watch 100. Additionally, because chronograph and timerfunctions are not provided in this embodiment, only operating switch C26 is provided. The method for indicating the alarm set time is also thesame as the process and structure of multifunction electronic analogwatch 100.

Reference is now made to FIG. 30 in which another embodiment of thepresent invention is depicted. A liquid crystal driver and latch 3001 isprovided on CMOS-IC 20. The liquid crystal display 3002 driven by liquidcrystal driver latch 3001 is coupled to CMOS-IC 20. In response tosoftware commands, liquid crystal display 3002 indicates time of day, asecond time different from the time of day, calendar date, alarm andtime resetting time, and chronographic time in digital representation.Liquid crystal display panel 3002 displays outputs in accordance withsoftware instructions from CPU 201 and provides digital representationof analog information displayed by multifunction electronic analog watch100.

The above three embodiments were used by way of example. However,various specification such as for example single motor driving of themultifunctions, the indication of twelve hour time keeping at anon-central location and the like may also be provided. By providing anIC 20 which utilizes software contained within memory to drive thefunction, it becomes possible to adapt the IC to each of theseconfigurations without having to remake the entire IC.

By providing a multifunction electronic analog watch in which almost allof the elements may be commonly used and providing a an IC forcontrolling the elements which may be adapted by reprogramming software,a multifunction analog watch is provided in which additional functionsmay be added or subtracted at arbitrary positions of the watch by merelyselecting the number and placement of additional functions indicatingstep motors and the disposition of wheel trains. Accordingly, a singlewatch movement may be utilized in realizing a multifunction electronicanalog watch having various specification. Additionally, because all ofthe main elements including the step motor may be commonly used,increases in the manufacturing costs and time necessary for re-castingthe dies for each specification change may be avoided. By providing anIC containing programmable software, operation on multiplespecifications of multifunction analog electronic watches may be simplyrealized by rewriting the software of the microcomputer, allowingstandardization of the IC within various watches. This provides amultifunction electronic analog watch which is easily adaptable tovarious face designs to meet diversified consumer demand.

Additionally, by providing a small alarm watch face within the mainwatch face which is independent from the twelve hour time keepingmechanism, the display of the alarm time and ordinary twelve hour timeby the alarm face becomes more definitive and errors in setting thealarm time will be prevented. Additionally, the alarm indications on thesmall watch face such as selecting alarm time and displaying ordinarytime may be corrected utilizing the same stem, therefore, it may becombined with the basic watch to form a composite watch which is moreeasily serviceable. By providing a button for correcting the twelve hourtime displayed on the small alarm watch face as well as the alarm timethe correction operation may be more definitive, preventing errors inoperation.

By providing the chronograph second hand at the center of the watch,time can be easily read enhancing timekeeping precision. Elapsed timeindication is given by two minute hands and two second hands byreversing the motor. This is effective in discriminating the elapsedtime timer from the chronograph indication facilitating the reading oftime remaining. Further, by providing a chronograph second hand which isdisposed centrally and counts one second for each minute of the timerelapsed time, the timer function aspect of the watch becomes moreserviceable.

By providing a first watch stem for correcting twelve hour timeindicated on the alarm small watch face and a second stem for correctingtime on the main watch face operating efficiency is enhanced byproviding correlativity between correction methods. The first stem isintended for exclusive use of time keeping of the main watch and secondstem is intended for switching each time indication function mode andcorrection thus ensuring a simpler and easier operation. By providingthe two stems at positions away from the hand indicating position, athinner multifunction watch is provided.

By providing a plurality of alarm indicators and an alarm control meanswhich causes the indicators to indicate a current time when the alarm isnot set, an alarm set time when the alarm time is set and after thealarm time is set, current 12 hour time once the alarm is activated andreleasing the alarm time from being set, thereby prohibiting the alarmfrom being activated when the alarm is not to be reactivated after thefirst occurrence of the alarm, an operation for releasing the alarm fromthe activation prohibited state may be omitted, simplifying watchoperation. Because operation becomes simpler, the wear on the switchescontained within the watch may be minimized, thus ensuring long rangereliability of the watch.

Additionally, by indicating an alarm time when the alarm has been setand current 12 hour time when the alarm is not set, it becomes easier todetermine whether or not the alarm is set without the need of otherextraneous mode indicators. Accordingly, a watch user is free fromconcern as to what to do or what not to do in connection with the watchwithout observing any type of indication.

Additionally, by providing more than one alarm indication which isvaried according to the mode, the mode can be simply identified byhearing the alarm sound. As a result, the watch user is free fromconcern as to which mode has been indicated. Additionally, by changingthe alarm ring tone, the alarm tones may be set to indicate certainalarm uses.

When the alarm set time and a current time coincide during setting thealarm time, an alarm set state is released, correction of the alarm settime is interrupted and the alarm set state is ready for release withoutneed for operating the watch or ensuring that an indicated state doesexist.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent by the preceding description, are efficiently attained andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, may be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multifunction electronic analog timepiececomprising a face, a plurality of indicators for displaying at least twotime keeping functions on the face, a plurality of step motor means fordriving at least one of the plurality of indicators, the indicatorsbeing positioned at arbitrary positions about the face in accordancewith the number of step motor means and positioning of step motor means,and microcomputer means having a program memory for generating anactuating signal, the program memory storing reprogrammable softwareinstruction for controlling the production of the actuating signal,microcomputer means having a programmable memory for generating anactuating signal, said programmable memory storing software forcontrolling the production of the actuating signal; motor drive controlmeans coupled to said microcomputer means for selectively producing atleast one of a plurality of drive mode signals in response to saidactuating signal; drive reference signal forming means coupled to saidmicrocomputer means for forming, in response to said actuating signal, aplurality of drive reference clocks each of a selected frequency andpulse duration determined by said actuating signal; at least one drivepulse forming means associated with each of said step motor means andcoupled to at least said motor drive control means and to said drivereference signal forming means for generating a drive pulse waveform ofa desired frequency and number of pulses in response to at least one ofsaid drive reference clocks and at least one of said drive mode signals;a drive pulse selecting means associated with each of said step motormeans and coupled to the associated drive pulse forming means, saidmotor drive control means and one of said step motor means for receivingsaid drive mode signals and at least the associated drive pulse waveformand in response thereto applying a driving signal, formed from saidassociated drive pulse waveform and with desired mode, to the associatedstep motor means, whereby the software stored in said microcomputermeans independently drives each of said step motor means; and an IC, themicrocomputer means being formed within said IC, the microcomputer meansincluding a core CPU, the software commands stored within said programmemory actuating said core CPU.
 2. The multifunction electronic analogtimepiece of claim 1, further comprising first wheel train meansintermediate the first step motor means and said at least one indicatorfor transmitting the rotation of the first step motor means to the atleast one indicator and second wheel train means intermediate the atleast second step motor means and the remaining indicators fortransmitting the rotation of the at least second step motor means to theremaining indicators, the positioning of the remaining indicators beingfurther positioned in accordance with the number and position of thefirst wheel train means and the at least second wheel train means, theremaining indicators being time keeping indicators.
 3. The multifunctionelectronic analog timepiece of claim 1, wherein said microcomputercontrols a first step motor means and at least second step motor means,the software is reprogrammable, and said indicators include time keepingindicators, at least one of which is a twelve hour time indicatorwhereby the twelve hour time indicator and additional time keepingindicators may be operated by a single microcomputer independent of thepositioning of the plurality of indicators.
 4. The multifunctionelectronic analog timepiece of claim 2, wherein at least one of saidremaining time keeping functions is chronograph indication.
 5. Themultifunction electronic analog timepiece of claim 2, wherein at leastone of the remaining time keeping functions is an elapsed timer.
 6. Themultifunction electronic analog timepiece of claim 1, wherein one of thefunctions is an alarm, at least one of said indicators indicating bothan alarm set time and ordinary 12 hour time, further comprising an alarmmeans, alarm controlling means for causing said indicator to indicatecurrent 12 hour time when the alarm is not set, indicate an alarm settime once the alarm is set, and indicate the current 12 hour time andreleasing the alarm from being set once the alarm means has beenactivated.
 7. A multifunction electronic timepiece having a plurality ofindicators for displaying at least two time keeping functionscomprising: twelve hour time indicator means for indicating twelve hourtime, the twelve hour time indicator means being disposed at the centerof the timepiece: small second hand indicator means for indicatingtwelve hour time seconds, the second hand indicator means being disposedat a position away from the center of the timepiece; first step motormeans for driving said twelve hour time indicator means and small secondhand indicator means; chronograph sect hand indicator means, thechronograph second indicator means providing a 1/5 second chronographindication and being disposed on said twelve hour indicating means atthe center of the timepiece; second step motor means for driving thechronograph second indicators means; chronograph minute indicator means,the chronograph minute indicator means being disposed at an arbitraryposition away from the center of the timepiece; third step motor meansfor driving the chronograph minute indicator means; and microcomputermeans having a programmable memory for generating an actuating signal,said programmable memory storing software for controlling the productionof the actuating signal; motor drive control means coupled to saidmicrocomputer means for selectively producing at least one of aplurality of drive mode signals in response to said actuating signal;drive reference signal forming means coupled to said microcomputer meansfor forming, in response to said actuating signal, a plurality of drivereference clocks each of a selected frequency and pulse durationdetermined by said actuating signal; at least one drive pulse formingmeans associated with each of said step motor means and coupled to atleast said motor drive control means and to said drive reference signalforming means for generating a drive pulse waveform of a desiredfrequency and number of pulses in response to at least one of said drivereference clocks and at least one of said drive mode signals; and adrive pulse selecting means associated with each of said step motormeans and coupled to the associated drive pulse forming means, saidmotor drive control means and one of said step motor means for receivingsaid drive mode signals and at least the associated drive pulse waveformand in response thereto applying a driving signal, formed from saidassociated drive pulse waveform and with desired mode, to the associatedstep motor means, whereby the software stored in said microcomputermeans independently drives each of said step motor means.
 8. Themultifunction electronic analog timepiece of claim 7, further comprisingalarm time indicator means for indicating an alarm time, the alarm timeindicator means being disposed in an arbitrary position away from thecenter of the time piece.
 9. The multifunction electronic analogtimepiece of claim 8, further comprising a face, a small face disposedwithin said face, the alarm time indicator means being disposed withinsaid small face, the alarm time indicating means indicating alarm settime and twelve hour time within the small face.
 10. The multifunctionelectronic analog timepiece of claim 9, wherein said alarm timeindicator means includes an hour hand and a minute hand.
 11. Themultifunction electronic analog timepiece of claim 8, further comprisingexternal control means for correcting the alarm time indicated by thealarm time indicators and a second external control means for correctingthe twelve hour time indicated by the twelve hour time indicators, thefirst control means and the second control means being disposed atdifferent position about the timepiece.
 12. The multifunction electronicanalog timepiece as defined in claim 11, further comprising a thirdcontrol means for correcting twelve hour time indicated by the alarmtime indicators.
 13. The multifunction electronic analog timepiece ofclaim 12, wherein the third control means includes a second stem. 14.The multifunction electronic analog timepiece of claim 8, wherein thesecond control means includes a first stem and a third control means maybe set in a plurality of pull positions, the third control meansincluding a second stem, the third control means determining theoperating function performed by the timepiece dependent upon the pullposition of the second stem.
 15. A multifunction electronic timepiecehaving a plurality of indicators for displaying at least two timekeeping functions comprising: twelve hour time indicator means forindicating twelve hour time, the twelve hour time indicator means beingdisposed at the center of the timepiece; a small second hand indicatormeans for indicating twelve hour time seconds, the second hand indicatormeans being disposed at a position away from the center of thetimepiece; first step motor means for driving said twelve hour timeindicator means and small second hand indicator means; chronographsecond indicator means, the chronograph second indicator means beingdisposed on said twelve hour indicating means at the center of thetimepiece; second step motor means for driving the chronograph secondindicators means; chronograph minute indicator means, the chronographminute indicator means being disposed at an arbitrary position away fromthe center of the timepiece; third step motor means for driving thechronograph minute indicator means: microcomputer means having aprogrammable memory for generating an actuating signal, saidprogrammable memory storing software for controlling the production ofthe actuating signal; motor drive control means coupled to saidmicrocomputer means for selectively producing at least one of aplurality of drive mode signals in response to said actuating signal;drive reference signal forming means coupled to said microcomputer meansfor forming, in response to said actuating signal, a plurality of drivereference clocks each of a selected frequency and pulse durationdetermined by said actuating signal; at least one drive pulse formingmeans associated with each of said step motor means and coupled to atleast said motor drive control means and to said drive reference signalforming means for generating a drive pulse waveform of a desiredfrequency and number of pulses in response to at least one of said drivereference clocks and at least one of said drive mode signal; a drivepulse selecting means associated with each of said step motor means andcoupled to the associated drive pulse forming means, said motor drivecontrol means and one of said step motor means for receiving said drivemode signals and at least the associated drive pulse waveform and inresponse thereto applying a driving signal, formed from said associateddrive pulse waveform and with desired, mode to the associated step motormeans, whereby the software stored in said microcomputer meansindependently drives each of said step motor means; alarm time indicatormeans for indicating an alarm time, the alarm time indicator means beingdisposed at an arbitrary position away from the center of the timepiece,the second step motor means and third step motor means being driven in aforward direction and in a reverse direction in response to theassociated driving signal from the associated drive pulse selectingmeans as determined by said software, and the chronograph secondindicator means and the chronograph minute indicator means indicatingthe minutes and seconds of elapse time when the second step motor meansand third step motor means are both driven in the reverse direction inresponse to the associated driving signal from the associated drivepulse selecting means as determined by said software.
 16. Themultifunction electronic analog timepiece of claim 15, wherein saidchronograph second indicator means is a hand and the chronograph minuteindicator means is a hand.
 17. The multifunction electronic analogtimepiece of claim 16, wherein the chronograph second hand is disposedat the center of the timepiece is driven at more than one speeddependent upon the time keeping function being indicated.
 18. Amultifunction electron analog timepiece of claim 16, wherein the secondchronograph indicator means is disposed at the center of the timepiecewherein a minute of remaining time of the elapsed time time keepingfunction is indicated by reversing the chronograph second indicator adistance equivalent to a chronograph second.
 19. A multifunctionelectronic timepiece having a plurality of indicators for displaying atleast two time keeping functions comprising: twelve hour time indicatormeans for indicating twelve hour time, the twelve hour time indicatormeans being disposed at the center of the timepiece; small second handindicator means for indicating twelve hour time seconds, the second handindicator means being disposed at a position away from the center of thetimepiece; first [first] step motor means for driving said twelve hourtime indicator means and small second hand indicator means; chronographsecond indicator means, the chronograph second indicator means beingdisposed on said twelve hour indicating means at the center of thetimepiece; second step motor means for driving the chronograph secondindicators means; chronograph minute indicator means, the chronographminute indicator means being disposed at an arbitrary position away fromthe center of the timepiece; third step motor means for driving thechronograph minute indicator means; microcomputer means having aprogrammable memory for generating an actuating signal, saidprogrammable memory storing software for controlling the production ofthe actuating signal; motor drive control means coupled to saidmicrocomputer means for selectively producing at least one of aplurality of drive mode signals in response to said actuating signal;drive reference signal forming means coupled to said microcomputer meansfor forming, in response to said actuating signal, a plurality of drivereference clocks each of a selected frequency and pulse durationdetermined by said actuating signal; at least one drive pulse formingmeans associated with each of said step motor means and coupled to atleast said motor drive control means and to said drive reference signalforming means for generating a drive pulse waveform of a desiredfrequency and number of pulses in response to at least one of said drivereference clocks and at least one of said drive mode signal; a drivepulse selecting means associated with each of said step motor means andcoupled to the associated drive pulse forming means, said motor drivecontrol means and one of said step motor means for receiving said drivemode signals and at least the associated drive pulse waveform and inresponse thereto applying a driving signal, formed from said associateddrive pulse waveform and with desired mode, to the associated step motormeans, whereby the software stored in said microcomputer meansindependently drives each of said step motor means; and alarm timeindicator means for indicating an alarm time, the alarm time indicatormeans being disposed at an arbitrary position away from the center ofthe timepiece, the chronograph second indicator means being driven atmore than one speed in response to the associated driving signal fromthe associated drive pulse selecting means as determined by saidsoftware dependent upon the function being performed by the chronographsecond hand indicator means.
 20. A multifunction electronic timepiecehaving a plurality of indicators for displaying at least two timekeeping functions comprising: twelve hour time indicator means forindicating twelve hour time, the twelve hour time indicator means beingdisposed at the center of the timepiece; small second hand indicatormeans for indicating twelve hour time seconds, the second hand indicatormeans being disposed at a position away from the center of thetimepiece; first step motor means for driving said twelve hour timeindicator means and small second hand indicator means; chronographsecond indicator means, the chronograph second indicator means beingdisposed on said twelve hour indicating means at the center of thetimepiece; a second step motor means for driving the chronograph secondindicator means; chronograph minute indicator means, the chronographminute indicator means being disposed at an arbitrary position away fromthe center of the timepiece; third step motor means for driving thechronograph minute indicator means; microcomputer means having aprogrammable memory for generating an actuating signal, saidprogrammable memory storing software for controlling the production ofthe actuating signal; motor drive control means coupled to saidmicrocomputer means for selectively producing at least one of aplurality of drive mode signals in response to said actuating signal;drive reference signal forming means coupled to said microcomputer meansfor forming, in response to said actuating signal, a plurality of drivereference clocks each of a selected frequency and pulse durationdetermined by said actuating signal; at least one drive pulse formingmeans associated with each of said step motor means and coupled to atleast said motor drive control means and to said drive reference signalforming means for generating a drive pulse waveform of a desiredfrequency and number of pulses in response to at least one of said drivereference clocks and at least one of said drive mode signals; a drivepulse selecting means associated with each of said step motor means andcoupled to the associated drive pulse forming means, said motor drivecontrol means and one of said step motor means for receiving said drivemode signals and at least the associated drive pulse waveform and inresponse thereto applying a driving signal, formed from said associateddrive pulse waveform and with desired mode, to the associated step motormeans, whereby the software stored in said microcomputer meansindependently drives each of said motor means; and alarm time indicatormeans for indicating an alarm time, the alarm time indicator means beingdisposed at an arbitrary position away from the center of the timepiece,the chronograph second indicator being disposed at the center of thetimepiece wherein a minute of remaining time of an elapsed time isindicated by reversing the chronograph second indicator a distanceequivalent to a chronograph second.
 21. An IC for a multifunctionelectronic analog timepiece having a plurality of indicators fordisplaying at least two time keeping functions, at least one timekeeping function being twelve hour time and a plurality of step motorsfor driving said plurality of indicators comprising: a microcomputermeans including a core CPU, a programmable memory means for storingsoftware for actuating said core CPU, said programmable memory meansstoring software for producing an actuating signal; motor drive controlmeans coupled to said microcomputer means for selectively producing atleast one of a plurality of drive mode signals in response to saidactuating signal; drive reference signal forming means coupled to saidmicrocomputer means for forming, in response to said actuating signal, aplurality of drive reference clocks each of a selected frequency andpulse duration determined by said actuating signal; at least one drivepulse forming means associated with each of said step motor means andcoupled to at least said motor drive control means and to said drivereference signal forming means for generating a drive pulse waveform ofa desired frequency and number of pulses in response to at least one ofsaid drive reference clocks and at least one of said drive mode signals;and a drive pulse selecting means associated with each of said stepmotor means and coupled to the associated drive pulse forming means,said motor drive control means and one of said step motor means forreceiving said drive mode signals and at least the associated drivepulse waveform and in response thereto applying a driving signal, formedfrom said associated drive pulse waveform and with desired mode, to theassociated step motor means, whereby the software stored in saidmicrocomputer means independently drives each of said step motor means.22. The IC of claim 21, wherein said drive reference signal formingmeans includes a plurality of motor clock means for controlling thepulse duration of an associated drive reference clock applied to eachstep motor.
 23. The IC of claim 21, wherein said multifunctionelectronic timepiece further comprises a plurality of wheel trainscoupled to said step motors for transmitting the rotation of said stepmotors to said plurality of indicators.
 24. The IC of claim 22, whereinsaid multifunction electronic timepiece further comprises a plurality ofwheel trains coupled to said step motors for transmitting the rotationof said step motors to said plurality of indicators.
 25. An electronictimepiece comprising: a plurality of indicators, at least one of saidindicators displaying at least 12 hour time and at least one of saidindicators displaying an additional time keeping function; a CPU foroutputting at least a control signal; a plurality of drive pulse formingmeans for generating a plurality of drive pulses; a plurality of stepmotor means each receiving at least one of said plurality of drivepulses and driving at least one of said plurality of indicators inresponse thereto; and selector means operatively coupled to said CPU andsaid drive pulse forming means, for selecting one of said step motormeans in response to said control signal and providing said drive pulsesgenerated by one of said plurality of drive pulse forming means to saidselected step motor means.
 26. The electronic timepiece of claim 25,further comprising: a face, wherein said indicator displaying 12 hourtime is disposed at substantially the center of said face and saidindicators displaying an additional time keeping function are disposedarbitrarily on said face at a position away from the center of saidface.
 27. The electronic timepiece of claim 25, wherein said selectormeans comprises: drive control means for outputting drive control datato at least one of said plurality of step motor means in accordance withsaid control signal; and a plurality of drive pulse selector means forselecting drive pulses to be supplied to said step motor means inresponse to said drive control data.
 28. The electronic timepiece ofclaim 25, further comprising: a main bus, wherein said main bus connectssaid CPU to said selector means.
 29. The electronic timepiece of claim27, further comprising, a main bus, a first common bus and a secondcommon bus; and wherein said CPU is connected to said drive controlmeans through said main bus, said drive control means is connected tosaid drive pulse selector means through said first common bus, and saiddrive pulse forming means is connected to said drive pulse selectormeans through said second common bus.
 30. The electronic time piece ofclaim 25, wherein said CPU, said plurality of drive pulse forming meansand said selector means are integrally formed as an IC chip.
 31. Theelectronic time piece of claim 27, wherein said CPU, said plurality ofdrive pulse forming means and said selector means are integrally formedas an IC chip.
 32. The electronic time piece of claim 28, wherein saidCPU, said plurality of drive pulse forming means and said selector meansare integrally formed as an IC chip.
 33. The electronic time piece ofclaim 29, wherein said CPU, said plurality of drive pulse forming meansand said selector means are integrally formed as an IC chip.
 34. Amultifunction electronic timepiece comprising: a plurality ofindicators, at least one of said indicators for displaying a 12 hourtime function and at least one of said indicators for displaying atleast one additional time keeping function: a plurality of step motormeans coupled to said plurality of indicators for driving said pluralityof indicators; a CPU for outputting at least a control signal and afrequency determining signal; reference signal forming means forreceiving said frequency determining signal and generating a referenceclock having a frequency generated as a function of said frequencydetermining signal; and a plurality of motor control means for receivingsaid reference clock and said control signal and forming drive pulsesinput to said plurality of step motor means in response to saidreference clock and in response to said control signals.
 35. An IC chipfor a multi-function analog electronic watch having a plurality ofmotors and a plurality of indicators driven by said motors to display afunction, said IC chip comprising: a plurality of motor drivers each foractivating a respective motor; a core CPU for outputting a first controlsignal; a program memory operatively coupled to said core CPU forstoring software for actuating said core CPU, said core CPU outputtingsaid first control signal as a function of said software; and a motordrive controlling means operatively coupled to said motor drivers forselectively outputting drive signals to said motor drivers, wherein saidmotor drive controlling means includes a motor drive system controllingmeans for storing drive mode for each of said motors to enable saidmotor drive controlling means to generate second control signals inresponse to said first control signals; a plurality of drive pulseforming means to generate motor drive pulses; and a plurality of motordriving selection means each receiving said motor drive pulses and saidsecond control signals to select and generate said driving signals toenable each of said motor drivers to activate said respective motors fordriving an indicator corresponding to one of the functions of saidmulti-function analog electronic watch.
 36. The IC chip of claim 35, inwhich said motor drive controlling means is operatively coupled to saidprogram memory and further comprises a drive reference signal formingmeans for generating a reference clock having a reference frequency inresponse to said first control signal.
 37. The IC chip of claim 36, inwhich said motor driving controlling means further includes a pluralityof motor clock controlling means receiving said reference clock signaland said second control signal for generating control trigger signals inresponse to said first control signal.
 38. The IC chip of claim 37, inwhich said plurality of motor clock controlling means each generates anumber of driving pulses as said control trigger signals.
 39. An analogmultifunction electronic watch comprising a plurality of indicators, aplurality of step motors; at least one gear train mechanism couplingeach step motor to a respective indicator to display a function; and anIC chip including a plurality of motor drivers each for activating arespective motor, a core CPU for outputting a first control signal; aprogram memory operatively coupled to said core CPU for storing softwarefor actuating said core CPU, said core CPU outputting said first controlsignal as a function of said software; and a motor drive controllingmeans operatively coupled to said motor drivers for selectivelyoutputting drive signals to said motor drivers, wherein said motor drivecontrolling means includes a motor drive system controlling means forstoring drive mode for each of said motors to enable said motor drivecontrolling means to generate second control signals in response to saidfirst control signals; a plurality of drive pulse forming means togenerate motor drive pulses; and a plurality of motor driving selectionmeans each receiving said motor drive pulses and said second controlsignals to select and generate said driving signals to enable each ofsaid motor drivers to activate said respective motors for driving anindicator corresponding to one of the functions of said multi-functionanalog electronic watch.
 40. An analog multifunction electronic watchcomprising a plurality of indicators, a plurality of step motors; atleast one gear train mechanism coupling each step motor to a respectiveindicator to display a function; and an IC chip including a plurality ofmotor drives each for activating a respective motor, a core CPU foroutputting a first control signal; a program memory operatively coupledto said core CPU for storing software for actuating said core CPU, saidcore CPU outputting said first control signal as a function of saidsoftware; and a motor drive controlling means operatively coupled tosaid motor drivers for selectively outputting drive signals to saidmotor drivers, wherein said motor drive controlling means includes amotor drive system controlling means for storing drive mode for each ofsaid motors to enable said motor drive controlling means to generatesecond control signals in response to said first control signals; aplurality of drive pulse forming means to generate motor drive pulses;and a plurality of motor driving selection means each receiving saidmotor drive pulses and said second control signals to select andgenerate said driving signals to enable each of said motor drivers toactivate said respective motors for driving an indicator correspondingto one of the functions of said multi-function analog electronic watch.41. The analog multifunction electronic watch of claim 40, in which saidmotor drive controlling means is operatively coupled to said programmemory and further comprises a drive reference signal forming means forgenerating a reference clock having a reference frequency in response tosaid first control signal.
 42. The analog multifunction electronic watchof claim 41, in which said motor driving controlling means furtherincludes a plurality of motor clock controlling means receiving saidreference clock signal and said second control signal for generatingcontrol trigger signals in response to said first control signal. 43.The analog multifunction electronic watch of claim 42, in which saidplurality of motor clock controlling means each generates a number ofdriving pulses as said control trigger signals.
 44. An electronictimepiece comprising; a plurality of indicators, at least one of saidindicators displaying at least 12 hour time and at least one of saidindicators displaying an additional time keeping function; a CPU foroutputting at least a control signal; a plurality of drive pulsegenerators for generating a plurality of drive pulses; a plurality ofstep motors each receiving at least one of said plurality of drivepulses and driving at least one of said plurality of indicators inresponse thereto; and at least one selector operatively coupled to saidCPU and said drive pulse generators, said at least one selectorselecting one of said step motors in response to said control signal andproviding said drive pulses generated by one of said plurality of drivepulse generators to said selected step motor.
 45. The electronictimepiece of claim 44, further comprising: a face, wherein saidindicator displaying 12 hour time is disposed at substantially thecenter of said face and said indicators displaying an additional timekeeping function are disposed arbitrarily on said face at a positionaway from the center of said face.
 46. The electronic timepiece of claim44, wherein said at least one selector comprises: a drive controlleroutputting drive control data to at least one of said plurality of stepmotors in accordance with said control signal; and a plurality of drivepulse selectors selecting drive pulses to be supplied to said stepmotors in response to said drive control data.
 47. The electronictimepiece of claim 44, further comprising: a main bus, wherein said mainbus connects said CPU to said at least one selector.
 48. The electronictimepiece of claim 46, further comprising a main bus, a first common busand a second common bus; and wherein said CPU is connected to said drivecontroller through said main bus, said drive controller is connected tosaid drive pulse selectors through said first common bus, and said drivepulse generators are connected to said drive pulse selectors throughsaid second common bus.
 49. The electronic time piece of claim 44,wherein said CPU, said plurality of drive pulse generators and said atleast one selector are integrally formed as an IC chip.
 50. Theelectronic time piece of claim 46, wherein said CPU, said plurality ofdrive pulse generators and said at least one selector are integrallyformed as an IC chip.
 51. The electronic time piece of claim 47, whereinsaid CPU, said plurality of drive pulse generators and said at least oneselector are integrally formed as an IC chip.
 52. The electronic timepiece of claim 48, wherein said CPU, said plurality of drive pulsegenerators and said at least one selector are integrally formed as an ICchip.
 53. A multifunction electronic timepiece comprising: a pluralityof indicators, at least one of said indicators for displaying a 12 hourtime function and at least one of said indicators for displaying atleast one additional time keeping function; a plurality of step motorscoupled to said plurality of indicators so as to drive said plurality ofindicators; a CPU for outputting at least a control signal and afrequency determining signal; a reference signal generator receivingsaid frequency determining signal and generating a reference clockhaving a frequency generated as a function of said frequency determiningsignal; and a plurality of motor controllers receiving said referenceclock and said control signal and forming drive pulses input to saidplurality of step motors in response to said reference clock and inresponse to said control signals.
 54. An IC chip for a multi-functionanalog electronic watch having a plurality of motors and a plurality ofindicators driven by said motors to display a function said IC chipcomprising: a plurality of motor drivers each for activating arespective motor; a core CPU for outputting a first control signal; aprogram memory operatively coupled to said core CPU for storing softwarefor actuating said core CPU, said core CPU outputting said first controlsignal as a function of said software; and a motor drive controlleroperatively coupled to said motor drivers for selectively outputtingdrive signals to said motor drivers, wherein said motor drive controllerincludes a motor drive system controller for storing drive mode for eachof aid motors to enable said motor drive controller to generate secondcontrol signals in response to said first control signals; a pluralityof drive pulse generators to generate motor drive pulses; and aplurality of motor driving selectors each receiving said motor drivepulses and said second control signals to select and generate said drivesignals to enable each of said motor drivers to activate said respectivemotors for driving an indicator corresponding to one of the functions ofsaid multi-function analog electronic watch.
 55. The IC chip of claim54, in which said motor drive controller is operatively coupled to saidprogram memory and further comprises a drive reference signal generatorgenerating a reference clock having a reference frequency in response tosaid first control signal.
 56. The IC chip of claim 55, in which saidmotor driving controller further includes a plurality of motor clockcontrollers receiving said reference clock signal and said secondcontrol signal, and generating control trigger signals in response tosaid first control signal.
 57. The IC chip of claim 56, in which saidplurality of motor clock controllers each generates a number of drivingpulses as said control trigger signals.
 58. An analog multifunctionelectronic watch comprising a plurality of indicators, a plurality ofstep motors; at least one gear train mechanism coupling each step motorto a respective indicator to display a function; and an IC chipincluding a plurality of motor drivers each for activating a respectivemotor, a core CPU for outputting a first control signal; a programmemory operatively coupled to said core CPU for storing software foractuating said core CPU, said core CPU outputting said first controlsignal as a function of said software; and a motor drive controlleroperatively coupled to said motor drivers for selectively outputtingdrive signals to said motor drivers, wherein said motor drive controllerincludes a motor drive system controller for storing drive mode for eachof said motors to enable said motor drive controller to generate secondcontrol signals in response to said first control signals; a pluralityof drive pulse generators to generate motor drive pulses; and aplurality of motor driving selectors each receiving said motor drivepulses and said second control signals to select and generate said drivesignals to enable each of said motor drivers to activate said respectivemotors for driving an indicator corresponding to one of the functions ofsaid multi-function analog electronic watch.
 59. The analogmultifunction electronic watch of claim 58, in which said motor drivecontroller is operatively coupled to said program memory and furthercomprises a drive reference signal generator generating a referenceclock having a reference frequency in response to said first controlsignal.
 60. The analog multifunction electronic watch of claim 59, inwhich said motor driving controller further includes a plurality ofmotor clock controllers receiving said reference clock signal and saidsecond control signal, and generating control trigger signals inresponse to said first control signal.
 61. The analog multifunctionelectronic watch of claim 60, in which said plurality of motor clockcontrollers each generates a number of driving pulses as said controltrigger signals.